Posted on 08/06/2003 4:39:47 AM PDT by Libloather
Senators: We were led to N.M. by will of people
By STATE SENS. RODNEY ELLIS, MARIO GALLEGOS and JOHN WHITMIRE
Aug. 5, 2003, 7:43PM
To paraphrase one of the greatest civil rights activists of the 20th century, "We are sick and tired of being sick and tired." Fannie Lou Hamer uttered these infamous words during her crusade in the 1960s and 1970s to encourage political participation and the right to vote by African-Americans, Hispanics and other minorities.
We and our fellow senators are in Albuquerque, N.M., because the same important issue faces the citizens and state of Texas. What we are protesting in New Mexico is not only that Texas Gov. Rick Perry continues to put redistricting on the agenda, but the fact that leadership has changed the Senate's rules in the middle of the game.
Congressional redistricting is a painful partisan process that is supposed to take place in the first legislative session after a census. In 2001, the Texas Senate and House made a conscious decision to not draw congressional lines and allow the federal courts to draw those lines. Perry then ruled out a special session to draw congressional maps, saying he preferred for a three-judge federal panel to draw one. Eventually, the federal courts drew a plan designed to elect 19 Republicans and 13 Democrats. However, Texans in those districts exercised their political freedom by electing 17 Democrats and 15 Republicans. The Republican leadership in Austin felt that it had a better chance in federal court to draw lines to increase Republican representation in Washington, D.C. The Republican attorney general of Texas went to court to defend the lines that the federal judges had drawn.
The longstanding tradition of the Texas Senate is that any bill is required to have a two-thirds vote of all members present in order to bring it up for consideration on the Senate floor. The rule has fostered a history of consensus, bipartisanship and camaraderie in the Texas Senate, qualities President Bush has publicly praised. More importantly, though, it protects minority senators and the minority populations that they represent, whether that "minority" be rural whites, suburban Republicans or urban Hispanics. The two-thirds rule minimizes the "tyranny of the majority."
In 2001, a minority of Republican members of the Texas Senate used the two-thirds rule to block consideration of any redistricting plans. The Republican leadership in Washington and Austin now wants a second bite at the apple. Late in this past regular session, it called for a new redistricting plan. In the past, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst has publicly stated that he would not move or push a redistricting bill unless he had two-thirds of the Texas senators on board. When a two-thirds majority was not achievable in the regular session and the first special session, the leadership decided to change the rules.
We understand why the national Republican leadership in Washington wants more seats from Texas. With the balance of the House of Representatives very close and growing alarm over the national economy, any shift in the number of Democrats or Republicans in Washington could have an enormous effect on the political landscape for years to come. Although redistricting is a very important issue to the Republican leadership in Washington, D.C., most Texans are vehemently opposed to redistricting and the mid-decade process in which we find ourselves.
We have taken our responsibilities and departure from Austin seriously. A senator has several options to express the will of the people: A senator can vote yes; can vote no; can be shown present but not voting; or can join with others to break a quorum. This last option is not invoked often, but under these extraordinary circumstances, it is the only option available to express the will of our constituents.
Fannie Lou Hamer paid a price for her courage and conviction. She was viciously beaten by police while in their custody. The Democratic Party refused to honor her credentials at the 1964 Democratic convention. We are here in New Mexico for an important reason: the integrity of Senate tradition and to be true to our constituents. We understand the potential risks of our action, but we will persevere.
Whitmire, D-Houston, has represented District 15 since 1983 and is the dean of the Texas Senate. Gallegos, D-Houston, is the vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Jurisprudence, which oversees legislation relating to redistricting. Ellis, D-Houston, is the chairman of the Senate Government Organization Committee.
Aug. 5, 2003, 6:31PM
AWOL senators, funding. Who paid jet expenses?
Could the Chronicle at least try to appear to be covering the true story behind "the Texas 11," [state senators who have left the state in order to avoid the special session on redistricting]: The endless stories of the hardships they are going through during this time are sickening. Please change the paper's name to the "Democratic Liberal Party Chronicle"
These 11 senators put themselves where they are. They could be spending weekends with their families if they weren't acting like grade-school kids on a playground: "It's not fair! We are the minority and can't run the state, so we have to change the rules!" Why not pull the stories from 1991 when the Democrats redrew the district lines to favor themselves?
Also, don't forget to report about the use of the two private jets. Who paid those expenses? If a Republican even suggested he or she might use a private jet for something, the Chronicle would be running stories on how the Republicans are being puppets for the rich and evil big business.
Andy Mullally, Cypress
GOP had chance in 2001
The state of Texas redistricts every 10 years and the census was last taken in 2000. The Senate Republicans killed redistricting in 2001. To me, that's it. The GOP had its chance to redistrict and it abdicated that responsibility to the three judges -- two of which were Republican and one who was a Democrat. The current map is the one they produced and it was ratified by the Supreme Court. It should be replaced in 2011 and not before.
The precedent that would be set here is not a good one.
A. Lopez, Houston
Missed paper's outrage
Where is the outrage about the Texas Democratic senators leaving the state? The Chronicle was so quick to chastise U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Sugar Land, for tracking the plane that took the House Democrats to Oklahoma. Where is the outrage now that the senators have flown a private plane to New Mexico? Where is the investigation into who paid for the chartered planes?
When the House and Senate are in session it is against the law for individuals or companies to pay for trips for them. Where is the Chronicle's investigation into these potential felonies and waste of our tax dollars?
Mike Bishop, League City
And someone should ask the Ds if it was the will of the pople that has them staying in a $159/night hotel room? How many of their constituents could afford that, I wonder?
Hmmmm ......tradition and present seems to make the solution easy. Tradition is not legally binding and two thirds of members present would led one to think if Gov Perry was to send the equal number of pubbies to New Mexico also the two thirds thang would be moot. As Larry the cable guy says........get er done !
Stay Safe !
And now that I think about it, what about the dreaded IRS? Does the plane ride (maybe the hotel tab, too) constitute income, say from a gift? Maybe we should call the IRS.
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